Clinard to remain at helm of Auburn program

Auburn head coach Nick Clinard.
(
Tracy Wilcox
)

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Nick Clinard has decided to remain as the head coach at Auburn, despite rumors that he would take an open position as head coach at North Carolina. Clinard recently signed a five-year deal with Auburn.

“I want to make Auburn a great program,” he said.

Clinard said North Carolina contacted the athletic department at Auburn and requested permission to speak with him. As a Tar Heels fan growing up, Clinard said it was nice to be considered for that job, especially at a school where his parents and brother attended.

"At the end of the day, my heart was telling me to stay with my players and the place that meant a lot to me," Clinard said of Auburn.

In just his second season at Auburn after leaving Central Florida in 2009, Clinard led the Tigers to the best season scoring average in school history. Auburn had eight top-3 finishes on the season, another school record. Sophomore Blayne Barber, who followed Clinard from UCF to Auburn and redshirted in 2009-10, put together the second-best scoring average in school history, and was named a Golfweek Second Team All-American.

The search for UNC's next golf coach continues. John Inman resigned this spring after 13 years at the helm of the Tar Heels program. Inman has agreed to assist in the completion of the new clubhouse and pro shop at UNC Finley Golf Course.

First round foursome pairings are set for the 2015 Palmer Cup, which pits top collegiate players from the United States and Europe against each other including Maverick McNealy and Beau Hossler college golfers.

First round pairings, matchups for 2015 Palmer Cup

Beau Hossler of Texas during Friday stroke play at the 2015 Men's NCAA Championship at The Concession in Bradenton, Fla.
(
Tracy Wilcox
)